Cylinder supporting and separating mechanism for cloth printing machines



Jan. 18, 1966 A. F. CONCHON ET AL 3,229,629

CYLINDER SUPPORTING AND SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH PRINTING MACHINES Original Filed Aug. 15, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l9 INVENTORS E CONC'HON F MSPERO Z0 I 8 B 4-1 F163 Wig/2%? W A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 18, 1966 A. F. CONCHON ETAL 3,229,629

CYLINDER SUPPORTING AND SEPARA'I'ING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH PRINTING MACHINES Original Filed Aug. 15, 1963 4 sheets-sheet a INVENTORS ANDRE FRANCOIS CONCHON ENGIFBERT R08ERT MASPERO ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 18, 1966 A. F. CONCHON ETAL 3,229,629

CYLINDER SUPPORTING AND SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH PRINTING MACHINES Original Filed. Aug. 15, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F I G 9 INVENTORS ANDRE FRANCOIS CONCHON BgNGLEBERT ROBERT MASPERO A 7' TORNE Y5.

A. F. CONCHON ET AL 3,229,629 CYLINDER SUPPORTING AND SEPARATING MECHANISM Jan. 18, 1966 FOR CLOTH PRINTING MACHINES Original Filed Aug. 15, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5: I I :::::=mmm Z I I I I :2 I ZIZEEm M E: Z I m 5 3 w w.

J M m RNEYJ.

United States Patent 3,229,629 (IYLINDER SUI'PORTING AND SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH PRINTING MA- CHINES Andr Frangois Conchon and Engelbert Robert Maspero, both of R112 Giicerio 537, Sao Paulo, Brazil Continuation of application Ser. No. 362,408, Aug. 15, 1963. This application July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 333,593 Claims priority, application Brazil, Aug. 17, 1962, 142,193 2 Claims. (Cl. 191-182.)

This application is a continuation application of United States patent application Serial No. 302,408, filed August 15, 1963, entitled, Printing Machine, in the names of and on behalf of the inventors Andre Francois Conchon and Engelbert Robert Maspero, now abandoned.

The invention hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures pertains, in general, to improved mechanisms which are useful when incorporated in, among other machines, machines for printing predetermined designs or patterns on webs of cloth or similar material.

Although the improved mechanisms according to the present invention are hereinafter described as being incorporated in cloth printing machines of the type disclosed in US. patent application Serial No. 822,629 filed June 24, 1959 in the names of the inventors Andre Francois Conchon and Engelbert Robert Maspero, now abandoned, it is to be understood that the improved mechanism, according to the present invention, may be used in many other types of machines.

Briefly, the cloth printing machine disclosed in the above-identified patent application Serial No. 822,629 employs a number of satellite printing rolls which are circumferentially arranged about the periphery of a large diameter central roll. A longitudinal central axle connected with the central roll and passing therethrough is suitably journalled. so that a motor may rotate the central roll by directly rotating the axle. A continuous web of cloth material or the like, which is to be printed upon, is situated between the surfaces of the large diameter central roll and the satellite printing rolls. As the large diameter central roll rotates, the continuous web is carried in a circumferential path around the rotating central roll. None of the satellite printing rolls, which are in pressure contact with the surface of the central roll through the intermediate web therebetween, has a separate direct drive means. Each of the satellite printing rolls is rotated by virtue of being in pressure contact with the web and the rotating central roll.

In the cloth printing machine disclosed in patent application Serial No. 822,629, each satellite printing roll is in the form of a hollow cylinder and has situated in the interior thereof a squeegee roll, or dye-applying roll. A printing dye, or ink, is introduced into the hollow printing roll and the squeegee roll, having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the printing roll, rolls on the peripheral interior surface of the larger diameter satellite printing roll, thereby applying the printing dye, or ink, to the interior surface of the satellite printing roll; the dye, or ink, so applied passing through the pervious surface pattern of the printing roll and being applied to the web to be printed upon. The squeegee roll, or dye-applying roll, situated within the hollow printing roll evenly distributes the dye, or ink, over the entire peripheral surface of the satellite printing roll, thereby contributing to the achievement of a uniformly printed pattern on the web.

In patent application Serial No. 822,629, the rotatable squeegee roll, or dye-applying roll, was formed from a metal tubulation or other suitable material, for example stainless steel, which could be coated with a resilient plasice tic or elastomeric material. The tubular squeegee roll was provided with an axle extending longitudinally through the tubular roll from both ends thereof. Arms rigidly fixed to an axle, or mandrel, of the printing roll have ball bearing journals at the ends thereof. These ball bearing journals support the respective extending ends of the longitudinal axle of the tubular squeegee roll and permit rotation of the tubular squeegee roll only about its own longitudinal axle. Thus, the rotation of the satellite printing roll, due to friction contact with the web and rotating central roll, causes rotation of the tubular squeegee roll due to friction contact of the internal peripheral surface of the printing roll with the squeegee rolls surface.

Since the printing roll assembly, including the tubular squeegee roll situated therewithin, is relatively light in weight, and due to the speed at which the printing roll is rotated by friction with the web and central roll, it is necessary that the freely rotatable squeegee roll rotate at high speeds or low speeds, as desired, without encountering excessive frictional forces which would seriously impede rotation of the squeegee roll. Because of the dyes, or printing inks employed, great difficulty has been encountered in attempting to ensure the unimpededv accurate rotation of the squeegee roll. For example, since the printing inks, or dyes, including thickeners and other chemicals, have a relatively high viscosity, it was found that additional intolerable friction was introduced when liquid sealing means, such as the conventional plastic, felt, or rubber sealing pads, were employed in connection with the bearing for the axle of the tubular squeegee roll. As a result, the use of such conventional ealing means was precluded. Moreover, the nature of the printing ink, or printing dye, solution introduced problems. Solvents, such as water, kerosene, and alcohol, among other sol vents, are employed in the printing inks. These solvents, as employed and formulated in the printing inks, are generally in an emulsion form. These solvents have high penetrating properties and when they are introduced into ball bearings, they dissolve the lubricating grease thereon, and, in addition, deposit solid dye stuff particles and other chemical particles on the ball bearings. As a result, the friction inside the bearings is enhanced such that after a relatively short time the operational life of the bearings is at an end. However, before the end of the life of the bearings, the excessive wear of the balls there of causes the axle of the squeegee roll to get out of alignment and wobble excessively. As a result, many mechanical malfunctions of the printing roll assembly occur causing misprinting and irregular printing of the pattern on the web. Often, the axle of the squeegee roll becomes jammed. Often, too, the squeegee roll will, due to excessive friction against the internal peripheral surface of the satellite printing roll, damage the printing roll.

Also, in cloth printing of the type disclosed in patent application Serial No. 822,629, support arms are provided for supporting the extending ends of the axles or mandrels of the printing rolls. These supporting arms, holding the printing rolls, are necessary in order to enable a shifting of the printing rolls; i.e., so that the printing rolls may be advanced or retracted with respect to the central rolls peripheral surface. For example, in the arrangement disclosed in patent application Serial No. 822,- 629, these supporting arms include worm screws which, when rotated, advance the satellite printing rolls toward the central roll and into contact therewith so that the required degree of pressure contact on the web between the printing rolls and the central roll is exerted.

With printing machines employing satellite printing rolls, like the kind hereinbefore described, the shifting of the printing rolls relative to the central roll is a tedious and protracted operation often requiring the attention of two or more skilled operators. The shifting operation is repeated for each of the printing rolls. Even the manufacturers of other kinds of printing machines, such as the conventional Rouleaux machines, have tried to obviate, or substantially lessen, the efforts required in the aforementioned shifting operations by developing relatively complex hydraulic and pneumatic systems. These relatively complex hydraulic and pneumatic arrangements operate to achieve contact between the printing rolls and the central roll by intensifying or relaxing the pressure transmitted to piston rods associated with the supporting arms. Such an arrangement of complex hydraulic and/ or pneumatic means also function to achieve the high pressures required for the contact between the printing rolls and the central roll so that the ink can be transferred from the printing roll to the web to be printed. Also, with such a complex arrangement, visual indicators are required in order to enable the operator check the actual pressures occurring. Also, special controls, such as switches or the like, are employed for regulating these pressures. Although the inclusion of such complex devices is advantageous in connection with such printing machines, there are drawbacks involved. By the inclusion of such complex devices, the price of the printing machine increases enormously; in addition to the increased price of the machine, there is an increased installation cost because of the need for extensive piping,

compressors, meters, special switches, special controls, etc.; and, in addition, highly skilled operators are required to operate such systems successfully.

Another difficulty encountered with cloth printing machines of the types hereinbefore described is involved in synchronizing and aligning all of the satellite printing rolls relative to each other and to the central printing roll so that the designs, or patterns, on the surfaces of said printing rolls are in accurate register for enabling synchronous and accurate repetitive printing on the web.

Another problem encountered in the operation of many of the prior art printing machines heretofore marketed is the difficulty in maintaining accurate synchronism of all of the satellite printing rolls during the actual printing operation so that perfect and accurate printing of the design, or pattern, on these printing rolls can be made on the web. For example, in the prior art misprinting occurred to a greater or lesser degree, depending upon whether the web to be printed on was relatively thin or relatively thick. For another example, at the very start of the printing operation, misprinting would occur and also at very high speeds of operation misprinting would occur due to loss of synchronism among the various printing rolls with respect to the central roll.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for printing designs, or patterns, on cloth webs or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved bearing arrangement useful for mounting, among others, the squeegee roll, or dye-applying roll, employed in printing machines employing satellite printing rollers for the purpose of eliminating the difiiculties with respect thereto hereinbefore discussed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved arrangement for advancing and retracting the satellite printing rolls relative to the central roll in order to eliminate the difficulties, hereinbefore discussed, experienced heretofore in the advancement and retraction of the printing rolls.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for enabling the synchronous alignment of all of the printing rolls relative to each other and to the central roll prior to the actual printing operation so that the designs or patterns on the printing rolls can be printed on the web material in accurate registration, respectively.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for synchronously maintaining accurate registration of the printing rollers during the actual printing operation so that an accurate registration of the designs on these printing rollers can be repetitively made on the web material.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectioned view of part of a squeegee, or dye-applying, roll showing its construction and axle portion according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectioned view of part of the squeegee roll and axle of FIG. 1 showing a specific mounting arrangement in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectioned longitudinal view of a portion of the improved printing machine of the present invention showing, among other things, improvements in the arrangement according to the present invention for advancing and retracting the satellite printing rolls relative to the central roll;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view of the aforesaid advancement and retraction arrangement as viewed along the vantage line 44 in FIG. 3 particularly illustrating the arrangement of the advancing-retracting supporting arm and the particular means for controlling the advancement or retraction thereof;

FIG. 5 shows part of an axle or mandrel of a printing roll having a ring arranged in conjunction therewith;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the ring of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of another ring which is intended to be superimposed over the ring of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the ring of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows the rings of FIGS. 58 as assembled on the mandrel or axle of a satellite printing roll;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing the assembled arrangement of the rings of FIGS. 5-8 with a printing roll;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the arrangement shown at FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an end view of a synchronizing gear arrangement according to the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a side view of the gear arrangement of FIG. 12.

Illustrated at FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings is the new and improved bearing arrangement for mounting the squeegee roll, or dye-applying roll, according to the present invention; the illustrated arrangement eliminating the drawbacks encountered with the known prior art arrangements.

The squeegee, or dye-applying, roll A is formed from a tube 1 which may advantageously be formed from. stainless steel or another like material which is suitable for the purpose. If desired, the tube 1 may be coated with a resilient or flexible material such as an elasto-meric material. Situated within the tubulation 1 is a rod-like body 2 which may be comprised of iron, aluminum, 'Duralumin, magnesium or the like. Although, as shown at FIGS. 1 and 2, only one end section of the squeegee roll A is illustrated, it is to be understood that the other end (not shown) of the squeegee roll A is constructed and arranged in the same manner as shown at FIGS. 1 and 2. 'Each end of the rod-like body 2 includes an internally threaded cavity therein. Each of these internally threaded cavities of the rod-like body .2 receives an externally threaded axle portion 3, or end shaft, therein. Among others, one suitable material for the axle shaft 3 is stainless steel, although other suitable metals or plastics may be employed. As shown at FIG. 1, one extremity of the axle portion 3 is provided with a generally hemispherically shaped cavity 4. The cavity 4 is particularly adapted for receiving a spherical ball 5 (FIG. 2). In order that the hemispherical cavity 4 may be more durable, its surface is coated with a suitable material such as a layer 9 of hard chromium.

As shown at FIG. 2, another shaft, or axle, 6 is arranged in line with the axle portion or end shaft 3. The shaft 6, like the shaft 3, has formed in one extremity thereof, a generally hemispherically shaped cavity, like the cavity 4, which is also coated with a layer, like the layer 9, of durable hard chromium. As indicated at FIG. 2, a spherical ball 5 is received in the opposing cavities of the respective shafts 3 and 6.

One end of the shaft 6 has, as shown, an externally threaded end section 6a. It is to be understood that at the opposite end (not shown) of the squeegee roll A there extends another axle portion 3, another spherical ball 5, and another shaft '6. Also provided at the ends of each shaft 6 is an arm member 7, which, as shown at FIG. 2, has at one end thereof an internally threaded aperture threadably engaging the externally threaded end section 6a of the shaft 6. At an opposite end of the arm member 7 another aperture which receives the axle, or mandrel, 8 of a satellite printing roll, is provided. Two nuts 66, 6b are provided for locking the arm member 7 on the threaded end section 6a of the shaft 6. Advantageously, the end portion 6a coacting with the internally threaded aperture of the arm 7 and the nuts 6b, 613 permits longitudinal shifting of the shaft 6 relative to the arm 7 and mandrel 8 so that a predetermined alignment of the shaft 6 and squeegee roll A may be achieved. This shifting of the shaft 6 permits appropriate pressure contact of the end cavities of the respective shafts 3 and 6 against the spherical ball 5 to be achieved.

\Vi-th the construction and arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the squeegee roll A is permitted to rotate freely with minimum friction; the spherical ball 5 serving as a bearing to prevent excessive frictional heating during rotation of the squeegee roll A and further insuring, during such rotation, the accurate alignment of the freely rotating squeegee roll A relative to the internal peripheral surface of the satellite printing roll of the printing machine.

Experience has shown that according to the construction and arrangement illustrated at FIGS. 1 and 2, relatively little wear is experienced by the spherical balls 5 and the surfaces of the cavities in the ends of the shafts 3 and 6. Moreover, after a relatively long period of service, the worn spherical balls 5 can easily be replaced by new spherical balls. A further advantage incident to the construction and arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is that lubrication of the spherical ball 5 is accomplished during operation by the printing ink or printing dye which is introduced into the hollow satellite printing roll in, for example, the same manner as is disclosed in patent application Serial No. 822,629.

Illustrated at FIGS. 3 and 4 is the new and improved system according to the present invention for advancing and retracting a satellite printing roll relative to the large diameter central roll; this construction and arrange ment eliminating the disadvantages hereinbefore described of the known prior art machines.

As shown at FIG. 3, there is the conventional large diameter central roll C. Extending longitudinally through the center roll C is its hollow axle 11, or mandrel, which, as shown, is journalled for rotation in the concentrically arranged ball bearing structure 14 of a fixed mount D; the axle 11 being rigidly connected to the central roll C. Situated coaxially within the hollow axle 11 is another smaller diameter axle 13 which is journalled for rotative movement independently of the hollow axle 11 and independently of the central roll C on the concentric ball bearing structure 12. Although only one end section of the printing machine is illustrated at FIG. 3, two large diameter bevel gears, such as the one gear 15, are mounted 6 at the opposing ends of the axle 13. As suggested at FIG. 3, and as indicated in more detail at FIG. 4, the bevel gears 15 meshingly engage with a pinion gear 16, one such pinion gear 16 being provided for each satellite printing roll B.

As is more clearly illustrated at FIG. 4, each pinion gear 16 includes a central body portion having an internally threaded aperture 17 passing coaxially therethrough. Also, as indicated at FIG. 4, a longitudinal externally threaded worm screw 18 is received in threaded engagement with the internally threaded aperture 17 of the body section of the pinion gear 16. At one end of the worm screw 18 there is provided the end section 19 which is coupled with the pillow member E. Formed in the pillow member E is the crescent-like bearing F, as indica-ted in FIG. 4.

As shown at FIG. 3, a motor 32 rotates the bevel gear 15 through the driving pinion gear 10, whereby rotational movement of the bevel gear 15 is accomplished and, as a result, rotation of the pinion gear 16 is ultimately achieved. Due to the rotation of the pinion gear 16, longitudinal motion is imparted to the worm screw 18 thereby causing advancement or retraction (depending upon the direction of rotation of the bevel gear 15) of the pillow member E which carries the mandrel, or axle, 8 of the satellite printing roll B. Further fine adjustments may be eflected by turning the screw 20 (FIG. 4), thereby finely adjusting the pressure of the satellite printing roll B against the central roll C.

In operation, the construction and arrangement according to FIGS. 3 and 4, can easily accomplish accurate advancement and retraction of the printing rolls B to achieve the required pressure contact thereof against the central roll C by energizing the motor 32 for a predetermined duration of time to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction depending upon whether advancement or retraction of the printing rolls B relative to the central roll C is required.

The FIGS. 5-11 illustrate the construction and arrangement of the system for the synchronous alignment of all of the satellite printing rolls so that the designs or patterns thereon will be in accurate registration for enabling accurately registered printing on the web material prior to the actual printing operation.

By way of introduction, each printing roll, such as prnting roll B (FIG. 3), is provided with a reference or indexing mark. This mark is aligned next to a hole in a side region of the printing roll. Moreover, with respect to an end gear I (FIG. 3), a reference mark or index mark is aligned with a particular tooth on the side gear I. In accordance with the aforementioned synchronizing alignment construction and arrangement, there is provided two rings adapted to be superposed coaxially. The inner ring 21 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, whereas the outer ring 28 is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The inner ring shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is secured to the axle 8 or mandrel of a printing roll, such as B, by means of screws, such as 22; the inner ring illustrated at FIGS. 5 and 6 being securely fastened to the axle, or mandrel, 8. In addition, the inner ring (FIGS. 5 and 6) has three circumferential slots therein regularly spaced about the outer periphery of the inner ring. The slot 38 has residing therein a spring 23 which is secured to a pin member 24. As shown at FIG. 8, the three screws or pins 25, 26, and 27 of the outer ring (FIGS. 7 and 8) enter the longitudinal slots 37, 3S and 39 of the inner ring (FIGS. 5 and 6).

The outer ring of FIGS. 7 and 8 will be pulled in a direction opposite to the rotational direction imparted to the printing roll B during the printing operation and the pin member 29 (as shown at FIGS. 811) will automatically enter hole 30 (FIG. 11) by virtue of the biasing action of the spring 31 (FIG. 11), whereby the printing roll B will become aligned in the exact position required for the accurate printing registration of the design thereon. The hole 30 is provided to coincide with a particular tooth on the side gear or end gear I so as to be coincident with the mark H (FIG. 9) on the printing roll B. After a 90 rotation, the outer ring, shown at FIGS. 7 and 8, Will move such that the pin 29 will be automatically introduced into hole 36 whereby the particular printing roll B will be indexed in its appropriate registration position. The hole 30 may be located in any position so that the pin 29 may be introduced thereinto, and after the machine is assembled, the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. -12 may be sequentially adjusted so that all of the printing rolls will be synchronously aligned in their appropriate orientations relative to the central roll C for the accomplishment of accurate registration of their designs or patterns for the repetitive printing on the web materials. After all the printing rolls have been adjusted relative to their sequential printing operation by means of the aforementioned adjustment, the particular teeth of the various side gears, such as I, will mesh with the freely rotatable idler gear G (FIG. 3) to enable synchronism during operation of the machine.

The printing rolls are advanced by operation of a switch (not shown) which will energize the synchronizing motor 32, the operation of which will drive the bevel gear through the pinion gear 10. As a result, the pinion gear 16 will rotate thereby advancing or retracting the worm screws 13 to cause the particular printing roll such as B to make contact with the central roll C. Also, the idler gears I will become emeshed with the side gears G when this is done. After so adjusting the printing rolls relative to the central roll, the central roll can then be rotated directly by a motor (not shown), whereby the printing rolls such as B are rotated in directions opposite to that direction required to shift the inner ring (FIGS. 7 and 8), causing the pin 29 to slide upwardly in hole 30 so that the inner ring will become shifted away from the surface of the side gear I, the side gear I becoming freed thereafter during the actual printing operation.

When a printing machine is stopped for, for example, the substitution of different colored dyes or inks in the various printing rollers B, the inner ring can be turned in the opposite direction to that of the normal rotation of the printing rolls B until the inner ring reaches a particular position whereat the pin 29 will be inserted automatically into the hole 30, the printing roll being then again in the right position for accurate registration of design.

Illustrated at FIGS. 3, 12 and 13 is the new and improved arrangements for synchronously maintaining accurate registration of the printing pattern or design by maintaining all printing rolls such as B in synchronization during the actual printing operation. As shown in FIG. 3, there is provided an idler gear G which freely rotates on the bearing K encompassing the shaft or axle 11. The teeth of the idler gear G mesh with the side gear I of the printing roller B so that all of the printing rolls are maintained in synchronism. The coaction between the idler gear G, the side gears I and the printing roll such as B is discussed at great length in patent application Serial No. 822,629. According to the present invention, the idler gear construction was improved in order to allow the printing of any web of fabric from the flimsiest to the thickest (e.g., terrycloth towels).

As shown in FIG. 13, the idler gear is comprised of the three toothed gears 34, 33, 33. The two outer gears 33 have the middle or inner gear 34- -situated therebetween. The two outer gears 33 are rigidly fixed to the common hub 35 while the middle gear 34 may be rotated relative thereto so that its teeth may be moved slightly out of alignment with the teeth on the outer gears 33, 33 by means of the spring 36 (FIG. 12) or by hydraulic piston rods or other means to move it out of alignment. As a result, it is possible to slightly decrease the space between the teeth of the three gears 33, 33 and 34. As a result, the teeth of the side gears I mesh snugly with the idler gear construction shown at FIGS. 12 and 13 to insure 8 accurate and perfect registration of the design from the very start of the printing operation and to maintain this perfect registration at high speed operation regardless of the thickness of the fabric web to be printed upon. In order to permit the perfect registration construction and arrangement hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 311 to operate with precision, it is also necessary that the idler gear construction G just described be provided with similar means; i.e., an additional lever used by the operator will enable meshing of a pin such as 25 within an indexing hole such as 30.

As is well known in the art, the teeth of the conventional side gears which actuate the printing rolls such as B generally have a modulus of l015. Further, in the above-described construction and arrangement, the side gears I have a modulus of 4.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A printing machine comprising a central axle, a central relatively large diameter roll secured to said central axle for rotation therewith and having stencil means on the surface thereof with means for distributing printing dye to said stencil means, means rotatably supporting said central axle, a printing roller registry gear rotatably mounted on said central axle and having external teeth on its periphery, at least one printing roller shaft, a satellite gear means connecting said satellite gear to said printing roller shaft for rotation therewith, a printing roller secured to said printing roller shaft for rotation therewith, movable cradle means for rotatably supporting said printing roller shaft in a position adjacent the periphery of said central roll, a printing roll positioning gear, means rotatably mounting said positioning gear for rotation independently of said central roller and concentrically to said central axle, gear means peripherally engaging said positioning gear and driving said cradle upon rotation of said positioning gear to displace said cradle radially in respect to said central roller in accordance with the rotation of said positioning gear, and motor means for rotating said positioning gear for positioning said printing roller in operative engagement with said central roller and for registering said satellite gear in operative engagement with said printing roller registry gear, said means for connecting said satellite gear to said printing roller shaft and said printing roller to said printing roller shaft including an inner ring member adapted to be fixed to said shaft of said printing roller and having a plurality of slots in the periphery thereof, an outer ring having pins extending inwardly confined in the respective slots of said inner ring, spring means in at least one of said slots urging the associated pins in a circumferential direction, said satellite gear having :a side recess, a pnojeotion formed on said outer ring and engageable in the recess when said printing roller with said inner and outer rings are properly registered for interengagement with said central roller whereby when said satellite gear is engaged with said registry roller, proper printing will take place.

2. A printing machine comprising a central axle, a central relatively large diameter roll secured to said central axle for rotation therewith and having stencil means on the surface thereof with means for distributing printing dye to said stencil means, means rotatably supporting said central axle, a printing roller registry gear rotatably mounted on said central axle and having external teeth on its periphery, at least one printing roller shaft, a satellite gear means connecting said satellite gear to said printing roller shaft for rotation therewith, a printing roller secured to said printing roller shaft for rotation therewith, movable cradle means for rotatably supporting said printing roller shaft in a position adjacent the periphery of said central roll, a printing roll positioning gear, means rotatably mounting said print positioning gear for rotation independently of said central roller and concentrically to said central axle, gear means peripherally engaging said positioning gear and driving said cradle upon rotation of said positioning gear to displace said cradle radially in respect to said central roller in accordance with the rotation of said positioning gear, motor means for rotating said positioning gear for positioning said printing roller in operative engagement with said central roller and for registering said satellite gear in operative engagement with said printing roller registry gear, a squeegee roller adapted to engage said central roller and means mounting said squeegee roller in a position to engage said central roller, said mounting means including a first shaft portion threaded to said squeegee roller, a second shaft portion aligned with said first shaft portion, each of said first and second portions having cavities defined in an end surface thereof, a ball positioned in the cavities, said second shaft member being threaded at its outer end, a bracket member having an internally threaded bore of said second shaft member being adjustably threadably positioned Within said bore, and nut means for securing said second shaft member in an axially adjusted position in respect to said bracket member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 896,899 8/1908 Dietrich 101-178 1,159,243 11/1915 Meyer 101-178 1,346,377 7/1920 Kinney 308-158 1,612,949 1/1927 Simpson 101-115 2,581,593 1/1952 Luttenauer 101-216 2,587,606 3/1952 Dungler 101-375 2,874,635 2/1959 Reinartz 101-216 2,893,310 7/1959 Johnson 101-182 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 3 1,25 8 1/ 1941 Great Britain.

29 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PRINTING MACHINE COMPRISING A CENTRAL AXLE, A CENTRAL RELATIVELY LARGE DIAMETER ROLL SECURED TO SAID CENTRAL AXLE FOR ROTATON THEREWITH AND HAVING STENCIL MEANS ON THE SURFACE THEREOF WITH MEANS FOR DISTRIBUTING PRINTING DYE TO SAID STENCIL MEANS, MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID CENTRAL AXLE, A PRINTING ROLLER REGISTRY GEAR ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CENTRAL AXLE AND HAVING EXTERNAL TEETH ON ITS PERIPHERY, AT LEAST ONE PRINTING ROLLER SHAFT, A SATELLITE GEAR MEANS CONNECTING SAID SATELLITE GEAR TO SAID PRINTING ROLLER SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, A PRINTING ROLLER SECURED TO SAID PRINTING ROLLER SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, MOVABLE CRADLE MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID PRINTING ROLLER SHAFT IN A POSITION ADJACENT THE PERIPERHY OF SAID CENTRAL ROLL, A PRINTING ROLL POSITIONING GEAR, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID POSITIONING GEAR FOR ROTATION INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID CENTRAL ROLLER AND CONCENTRICALLY TO SAID CENTRAL AXLE, GEAR MEANS PERIPHERALLY ENGAGING SAID POSITIONING GEAR AND DRIVING SAID CRADLE UPON ROTATION OF SAID POSITIONING GEAR TO DISPLACE SAID CRADLE RADIALLY IN RESPECT TO SAID CENTRAL ROLLER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ROTATION OF SAID POSITIONING GEAR, AND MOTOR MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID POSITIONING GEAR FOR POSITIONING SAID 